La Facile
Needle Case
Patent (Fig. 14, 15 and 16)
Design Details
Needle Case Type: |
Flat-Names |
Patent/Registered to: |
Joseph Welch & Charles Laight - Redditch |
Patent/Design Representation #: |
Mechanical Patent: #1287 (Figures 14, 15 and 16) |
Patent/Design Registration Date: |
May 12, 1871 |
Location of Patent/Design Registration: |
British Library - Business and Intellectual Property Centre – London |
Reference #: |
1871-1287 |
Dimensions: |
4.4 x 5.1 |
Material: |
Brass |
Name Variations: |
a) R. Harrison & Co - Metropolitan Works, Redditch
b) C. Laight & Sons - Redditch
b) Unmarked |
Other Variations: |
None |
Additional Photographs
Back closed and open
Front open and front detail
Back signature detail and reference to patent No. 1287
Other back detail and unmarked version (photo from eBay)
Other back detail with Harrison name (photos from eBay)
Facts
To date five Avery style needle cases have been discovered with French words stamped or engraved on them: La Facile, Merveille, Beatrice, Arts
and Industry and the Postal Weight. According to Google Translate, an online language translation program, “la facile” means easy whereas
“merveille” means wonder or marvel. The French words written on the Beatrice refer to a company name and address, the ones on the Arts and
Industry indicate it was a souvenir of the 1878 exposition in Paris and two of the four sides of the Postal Weight contain information in French
about the cost of mailing items in France. It seems most likely that these needle cases were made specifically for the French market.
Today anyone interested in purchasing an antique brass needle case while in France will need to know what it is called in French: “ancienne boîte à
aiguilles en laiton”.
French flag
History
During the Victorian period at least two needle manufacturers from Redditch, England had offices or agents in France. In 1868 H. Milward
& Sons worked with the French merchant Theodore Givry of Paris to patent the fan needle case. In addition Milward’s name has also been found
stamped on a Beatrice needle case along with the words “Aux Armes de Russie - Vivienner 45” and “Brevette”. When translated this means
“weapons of Russia at 45 Vivienner Street” and “Patented”. Apparently the words “weapons of Russia” was a reference to the bent arm with
sword coat of arms that was Milward’s trademark. The other company with connections to France was Avery. An 1862 business directory
of Paris includes a listing for Pierre Hebert at 27 St. Marc Street, “seul depot en France de William Avery et son, aiguilles, epingles et
hamecons, a Redditch, Angleterra” (sole depot in France of William Avery & Son, needles, pins and hooks, Redditch, England).
Miscellaneous
France is the largest country in Western Europe in land mass and the second largest in population. At least half of the country is bordered
by water, the Atlantic Ocean on the western side, the Mediterranean Sea on the south and the English Channel and North Sea to the north. Six
countries border France: Belgium and Luxembourg on the north, Germany, Switzerland and Italy on the east and Spain on the south. Victorian
France is best known for its art which led the world in the transition from a rigid conventional style to the emergence of a more radical modern
style. Although at the time this new art was rejected by Parisian art critics, today the paintings from the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist
periods are some of the most beloved of all time. Click on the painting below to see a larger version of it.
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat 1884–1886
